Shiv Sena says no to Pakistani artistes till peace on border

Mumbai, Oct 8 : The youth wing of the Shiv Sena on Thursday said it won't be proper to host shows by Pakistani artistes in India as long as tensions continued on the India-Pakistan borders.

"We are admirers of Pakistani ghazal maestro Ghulam Ali and listen to his music… But we cannot permit his concert here in view of the killings perpetrated by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists on our borders," Yuva Sena president Aditya Thackeray told the media.

He was speaking on the sidelines of the inaugural of Jain International Trade Organisations Games.

Justifying the Shiv Sena's opposition to Ghulam Ali concerts scheduled later this week in Maharashtra, Thackeray claimed the move was in support of Indian armed forces that were "grappling terror on the borders".

"Instead of providing security to Ghulam Ali, it is more important to enhance security for our countrymen and on our borders," he said, referring to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' assurance on providing full security to the Pakistani maestro in the state.

Thackeray's reactions came a day after the Shiv Sena's film wing, Chitrapat Sena, issued threats against the Ghulam Ali concert in Mumbai on Friday and in Pune on Saturday.

The events were planned as part of a tribute to the Indian ghazal singer Jagjit Singh on his fourth death anniversary.

Even as Fadnavis promised adequate security to Ghulam Ali, the event organisers met Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray and decided to cancel Ghulam Ali's participation in the commemorative programmes.

"The programmes will be held as per the schedule but Ghulam Ali will not participate. This decision was taken at a meeting between event organisers and Uddhav Thackeray," Chitrapat Sena general secretary Akshay Bardapurkar told IANS after the meeting late Wednesday.

"We respect the art and artistes of Pakistan. However, we are strongly against any form of cultural association with that country since it regularly kills our soldiers and civilians in attacks from across the borders," said Chitrapat Sena president and Marathi actor Aadesh Bandekar.

He had warned of protests not only in Mumbai and Pune but wherever Ghulam Ali, 75, performed in the country.

In the past, the Shiv Sena had protested against Pakistani singer Atif Aslam's concert and against Pakistan cricket team playing in India.

On Tuesday, the Shiv Sena, through its mouthpiece 'Saamana', urged the central government to attack Pakistan in retaliation to the cross-border attacks on Indian solders and civilians.

(IANS)